Week In Review News & Rumors

Headlines:

• The Rams released three veterans on Thursday, cutting defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis, and tight end Jared Cook.
• The 2016 NFL salary cap may exceed $155MM.

Free Agency Rumors:

• QB Kirk Cousins, Washington not close on deal (link)
• Browns C Alex Mack likely to opt out of deal (link)
• Jets likely to tag DE Muhammad Wilkerson (link)
• Bears undecided on franchise tagging WR Alshon Jeffery (link)
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul unlikely to return to Giants (link)
• Rams considering transition tag for CB Trumaine Johnson (link)
• Dolphins, DE Cameron Wake discussing extension (link)
• Chiefs prioritizing deal for S Eric Berry (link)

Retired:

• Jared Allen, DE (link)
• Rashean Mathis, CB (link)
• Jerod Mayo, LB (link)
• Heath Miller, TE (link)

Released:

• Bears – Jermon Bushrod, T (link)
• Browns – Jim Dray, TE and Randy Starks, DT (link)
• Falcons – Paul Soliai, DT (after March 9)
• Lions – Joique Bell, RB (link); Stephen Tulloch, LB (after March 9); C.J. Wilson, DT (link)

Re-Signed:

• Jaguars – Chad Henne, QB (two years, $8MM)
• Panthers – J.J. Jansen, LS (five years, $5.5MM)
• Titans – Craig Stevens, TE (one year, $2MM)

Suspended:

• Cowboys – Randy Gregory, DE (four games)
• Packers – Mike Pennel, DT (four games)
• Ravens – Nick Boyle, TE (10 games)

Headlines:

• Bills running back LeSean McCoy was accused of assaulting police officers in a barroom fight, and is expected to be served with an arrest warrant next week.
• The Raiders have agreed to one-year deal with O.co Coliseum that will see the club remain in Oakland for at least the 2016 season; the extension also contains options for 2017 and 2018.
• The NFL upheld Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict‘s three-game suspension.

Free Agent Rumors:

• Bears inform Matt Forte he won’t be re-signed (link)
• Anquan Boldin, Percy Harvin contracts void, meaning they will hit free agency (link)
• Buccaneers wary of spending big in free agency (link)
• Broncos attempting to re-sign Malik Jackson (link)
• Reggie Bush wants to continue playing (link)

Extended:

• Packers – Letroy Guion, DT (through 2018)

Signed/Re-Signed:

• Lions – Lamar Holmes, T (link)
• Panthers – Wes Horton, DE (link)
• Raiders – Nate Allen, S (re-signed after being released)

Released/Waived:

• Colts – Ryan Lindley, QB (link)
• Dolphins – Quinton Coples, DE (link); Jason Fox, T (link); Brice McCain, CB (link)
• Eagles – Riley Cooper, WR (link)
• Falcons – Justin Durant, LB and William Moore, S (link)
• Giants – Will Beatty, T and Geoff Schwartz, G (link)
• Saints – Jahri Evans, G and David Hawthorne, LB (link)
• Titans – Michael Griffin, S (link)

Retired:

• Jon Beason, LB (link)

Front Office:

• Falcons – hired Joel Collier as director of pro personnel (link)
• Giants – hired Martin Mayhew of director of football operations/special projects (link)

Headlines:

• Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has reportedly told friends he’ll retire.
• Calvin Johnson has similarly told friends (and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell) that he plans to retire.
• After much speculation, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch intends to retire.
• The Eagles signed edge rusher Vinny Curry to a five-year, $47MM extension.
• The Raiders expect to remain in Oakland for the 2016 season.

Franchise Tags:

• Broncos – Von Miller, LB (likely)
• Eagles – Sam Bradford, QB (conflicting reports)
• Panthers – Josh Norman, CB (likely)

Free Agent Rumors:

• Bears – TE Zach Miller seeking $5MM per year (link)
• Bengals – WR Marvin Jones plans to test free agency (link)
• Broncos – LB Danny Trevathan expects interest from Bears (link)
• Chiefs – club working on extension for S Eric Berry (link)
• Raiders – LT Donald Penn wants to talk contract (link)

Signed:

• Jets – Dri Archer, RB (link)
• Saints – Vick Ballard, RB (link)
• Washington – Ziggy Hood, DL (link)

Retired:

• Justin Tuck, DE (link)

Off-Field:

• Johnny Manziel:
  • Browns expected to cut Manziel (link)
  • Agent no longer representing Manziel (link)
  • Manziel refuses admittance to rehab (link)
  • Police investigating Manziel (link)
• RB Montee Ball arrested (link)

Extended:

• Chiefs – Travis Kelce, TE (through 2021)
• Eagles – Brent Celek, TE (through 2018); Zach Ertz, TE (through 2021); Lane Johnson, T (through 2021)

Relocation:

• The Chargers announced they will remain in San Diego for the 2016 season, although they have agreed in principle to a deal that gives the club an option to move to Los Angeles in the future.
• The Raiders are exploring a move to Las Vegas, but they are also discussing a short-term lease with O.co Coliseum in Oakland.

Coaching:

• 49ers – Jim O’Neil (defensive coordinator)
• Buccaneers – Todd Monken (offensive coordinator)
• Rams – Rob Boras (offensive coordinator)

Front Office:

• Colts – Ryan Grigson, general manger (extended through 2019)
• Falcons – hired Lionel Vital and Ruston Webster (link)

Retired:

• Mike Leach, LS (link)

Other:

• Dolphins plan to rework Ndamukong Suh‘s contract (link)
• Cowboys don’t plan to re-sign Greg Hardy (link)
• Panthers LB Thomas Davis breaks arm, plans to play in Super Bowl (link)

Headlines:

• The Titans hired interim head coach Mike Mularkey on a full-time basis, inking him to a three-year contract.
• The Jaguars extended head coach Gus Bradley, locking him up through 2017.
• Running back Marshawn Lynch could be leaning towards retirement, per Seahawks GM John Schneider.
• Browns receiver Josh Gordon officially filed for reinstatement.

Offensive Coordinators:

• 49ers – Curtis Modkins (hired), Geep Chryst (fired)
• Chiefs – Brad Childress and Matt Nagy (promoted)
• Eagles – Frank Reich (hired)
• Lions – Jim Bob Cooter (retained)

Defensive Coordinators:

• 49ers – Eric Mangini (fired)
• Browns – Ray Horton (hired)
• Eagles – Jim Schwartz (hired)
• Jaguars – Todd Wash (promoted)
• Titans – Terry Robiskie (hired)

Signed:

• 49ers – Eric Rogers, WR (link)

Injuries:

• Broncos – Omar Bolden, DB (placed on IR)
• Patriots – Jerod Mayo, LB (placed on IR)

Los Angeles:

• The Rams officially moved to Los Angeles, and the Chargers are expected to follow suit. The Raiders, meanwhile, are said to be open to moving to other cities, including San Diego.

Head Coaching News:

• 49ers – Chip Kelly (hired)
• Browns – Hue Jackson (hired)
• Buccaneers – Dirk Koetter (hired)
• Eagles – Doug Pederson (hired)
• Giants – Ben McAdoo (hired)
• Lions – Jim Caldwell (retained)
• Titans – Mike Mularkey (hired)

Front Office:

• Titans – Jon Robinson, GM (link)

Extended:

• Broncos – Derek Wolfe, DE (through 2019)
• Patriots – Keshawn Martin, WR (through 2017)

Suspended:

• Bengals – Vontaze Burfict, LB (three games)

Signed:

• Cardinals – Jason Babin, LB (link)

Retired:

• Reggie Wayne, WR (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

For all the latest on coaching news, be sure to follow our 2016 Head Coaching Search Tracker.

Coaching:

• The Dolphins have found a new head coach, hiring former Bears OC Adam Gase and signing him to five-year deal.
• After 12 years, the Giants parted ways with head coach Tom Coughlin.
• In a surprising move, the Buccaneers fired head coach Lovie Smith after two seasons.
• The Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine after two years.
• The 49ers fired Jim Tomsula after one season at the helm.
• Sean Payton will return as the Saints‘ head coach in 2016.
• The Bengals plan to retain head coach Marvin Lewis for a 14th season.
• The Colts extended head coach Chuck Pagano through 2019.
• Not wanting a lame duck coach, the Chargers extended Mike McCoy through 2017.

Front Office:

• The Lions hired former Patriots executive Bob Quinn as their new general manager.
• The Dolphins promoted Chris Grier to GM.
• The Browns promoted executive Sashi Brown to EVP of football operations while hiring MLB’s Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer.
• The Titans parted ways with GM Ruston Webster.
• The Browns fired general manager Ray Farmer.
• The Colts extended general manger Ryan Grigson through 2019.
• The Falcons will retain general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

Extended:

• Chiefs – Demetrius Harris, TE (through 2018)

Signed:

• Washington – Cary Williams (link)

Other:

• Calvin Johnson considering retirement (link)
• Rams, Chargers, Raiders apply for LA relocation (link)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• After slightly less than three seasons, the Eagles parted ways with head coach Chip Kelly.
• The Dolphins fired general manager Dennis Hickey.
• After tearing his Achilles during a lost season, Steve Smith will return to the Ravens in 2016.

Coach/GM Rumors:

• Expected to part ways:
  • 49ers/Jim Tomsula (link)
  • Browns/Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine (link)
  • Colts/Chuck Pagano (link)
  • Giants/Tom Coughlin (link)
• Expected to be retained:
  • Bills/Rex Ryan and Doug Whaley (link)
  • Chargers/Mike McCoy (link)
  • Jaguars/Gus Bradley (link)

Draft Declarations:

• California – Jared Goff, QB (link)
• Memphis – Paxton Lynch, QB (link)
• Ohio State – Joey Bosa, DE, Ezekiel Elliott, RB, and Cardale Jones, QB (link)
• Penn State – Christian Hackenberg, QB (link)

Signed:

• Colts – Josh Freeman, QB and Ryan Lindley, QB (link)

Waived:

• Panthers – Wes Horton, DE (link)
• Steelers – Jacoby Jones, WR (link)

Suspended:

• Raiders – Marcel Reece, FB (four games)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• An Al Jazeera documentary has accused Peyton Manning, Julius Peppers, and other NFL players of obtaining HGH from an Indianapolis clinic. Manning has strongly denied the claims.
• Future Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
• Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was handed a one-game suspension following his actions during last week’s game against the Panthers (the ban was subsequently upheld).
• The Cardinals‘ defense was dealt a devastating blow, losing DPOY candidate Tyrann Mathieu to a torn ACL.

Signed/Re-Signed: 

• Giants – Brandon Meriweather, S (link)
• Patriots – Steven Jackson, RB (link)

Waived:

• Patriots – Leonard Hankerson, WR (link)

Injuries:

• 49ers – Alex Boone, G (IR)
• Browns – Andrew Hawkins, WR (IR)
• Buccaneers – Akeem Spence, DT (IR)
• Chargers – Melvin Gordon, RB (IR)
• Cowboys – Tony Romo, QB (IR)
• Texans – T.J. Yates, QB (IR)

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

• The Packers and defensive end Mike Daniels agreed to a four-year, $42MM extension.
• Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton suffered a fractured thumb and is out indefinitely; he won’t need surgery, and the best-case scenario has Dalton returning for the playoffs.
• Despite previously expressing his plans to retire after the season, Ravens receiver Steve Smith is now expected to return in 2016.

Extended:

• Chiefs – Jah Reid, T (through 2018)

Waivers:

• Dolphins – claimed DE Damontre Moore from the Giants (link)
• Patriots – claimed Leonard Hankerson, WR from the Falcons and LaAdrian Waddle, T from the Lions (link)

Waived:

• Colts – Todd Herremans, G (link)

Signed:

• Giants – Barry Cofield, DT (link)
• Panthers – Robert McClain, CB (link)
• Ravens – Ryan Mallett, QB (link)
• Saints – Kendall Hunter, RB (link)
• Seahawks – Bryce Brown, RB (link) and Christine Michael, RB (link)

Injuries:

• Bears – Antrel Rolle, S (link)
• Bills – Stephon Gilmore, CB (IR)
• Browns – Joe Haden, CB (IR) and Brian Hartline, WR (IR)
• Lions – Brandon Pettigrew, TE (IR)
• Patriots – LeGarrette Blount, RB (IR) and Dominique Easley, DT (IR)
• Raiders – Austin Howard, T (IR)
• Seahawks – Thomas Rawls, RB (IR)
• Titans – Derrick Morgan, LB (IR)